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So, while out on my daily workout, I came upon some interesting things….

First: Bad fences. There were two of those…

Then, there was this house with two gates on their home… The second gate is not in such an ideal spot dontcha think? I would have a very hard time reaching my key in there to get that sucker open! I suppose that would be good.

And finally… Superdog. This little half-pint of solid muscle literally rocketed straight up this vertical cliff all the way to the top! I was amazed how strong this pooch was! I would not want to meet him in the wrong mood I tell you!

Well, there you have it folks! Another exciting workout in the wilds of San Francisco!!

Yesterday, although the winds were strong, the sun kept the gusting breeze a cool breath not a cold blow! I started at the top of the hill and read a book that I just started called The Age of Gold by, H.W. Brands.

After about a half an hour I decided it was time to walk. I was trying to figure out where the warmest and least gusty route might be.

So I started out heading east. I then investigated the east slope and moved around to the south slope. It was warm and beautiful!! Very quaint! I mean… Who ever thought there were green tree lined streets in busy metropolis San Francisco!!

In this day of technology, we don’t do many manual things to pass time besides reading & sleeping & eating. After not having my computer for so long, the first thing I did was pull it open. That worked until I just got another delay notice. Time to find my gate & visit the loo. After changing out of my wet (from getting caught in the rain earlier) clothes and freshening up, I found my gate… And it was packed! I found this table kinda in the middle but at the same time out of the way. For this stretch, I wanted to DO something! (Anything to alleviate the urge to want to smoke!). So, I pulled out a drawing l started a couple days ago. Our dear reader Katykins suggested that I take a picture of some of the stuff I have been working on. So, I give u a 2 in 1. My drawing (unfinished!) AND the airport! Hope u all have a fantastic. Holiday!!

Graffiti PURPOSELY PLACED on a home on the west slope of Bernal. I believe that our neighborhood has either 3 or 4 of these stencils up. They are done by an artist from Oakland (aka the old sf!)… Hopefully Wilson will have completely recovered from the Tommy Johns surgery and he is impressing Bocce a LOT… enough for us to offer him a competitive contract. Because at this point, Mr. Wilson is a free agent. How could we lose the beard that we all should fear?? What will i wear on game day??!! Dilemmas! Oh well, i am going to enjoy my bearded misfit champion team with Brian Wilson a part of the mismatched symphony of players and hope for the best!

Thank you to Architizer website for allowing me to share their article!

In quite possibly the best illustration of “accidents waiting to happen” ever, German artist Robert Rickhoff has created a new photo series that questions public space in a humorous—and sometimes disturbing—way. See more!

Titled “Out of Place,” Rickhoff’s series underscores the importance of architecture and urban planning by presenting impractical and dangerous situations, such as a playground slide facing a road or a speed bump in a railroad track. Don’t worry: these are not real-life scenes (although that certainly would make the images more compelling). Rickhoff digitally manipulates photos from various urban and suburban locales.

At first glance, many of the photos appear to be rather banal. It’s only upon closer inspection that viewers realize something is amiss. Whether they suggest skateboarding in the street or playing volleyball in the center of the Autobahn, Rickhoff’s images depict how idiotic urban design could actually be. We only hope these scenarios don’t actually exist somewhere on this crazy planet!

I dont think that once in the last 20 years, have i seen an entire week (yes i mean 7 whole days! and it is still going now!!) with incredible weather during Fleet Week. Usually we get a couple days, but (as in last year), the fog came in right around the time they started flying and only were able to do one trick and pass over the bay before having to call it. Some years, they dont even fly. If they cant see their plot points it is very dangerous as well as if it is too foggy, we cant see them. This week though, none of that issue as you can see below.. It was maybe the most beautiful weathered Fleet Week in the last 2 decades! It was really awesome.🙂

Blue Angels doing their loop-de-loop over SF bay. Thank heavens they use the smoke or i’d have never been able to capture it on my iphone!

One of my favorite members of the Blue Angels team… FAT ALBERT!

From atop Bernal Hill at the top by the Microwave tower. the little speck in the sky fat albert leaving scene of the fly by!

Oh what a view!

That speck up there is not a plane, but a beautiful Red Tailed Hawk.

Neighbor and his boy were enjoying the sites at the top too. They were very nice.

Hey hey hey!

Oopsie… a little bit of trouble atop the tower. I dont know if the girl who was running on the roof of the tower got arrested or just warned. Note… should never trespass on city govt. property while hundreds of people are there watching.

whoops. another guy being talked to by the popo. i saw him later though so they let him go. yea.

pretty steep up here at 436 feet up.

while we are here, lets check out our 49ers! Candlestick is just to the left of the bluff.

I hope you enjoyed the photo recap. I know we dont have the best view to see all the exciting flying, but i personally think that 1. the views of the city make it worthwhile! And 2. not having to fight the traffic makes it all doable!

On my walk a couple days ago, i decided to go early (9:00am ish) unstead of later (4-6ish). It was a very different scene up there in the morning. I saw a lot of ladies. most of them with dogs a few with babies. But even more that the female race, i saw so much wildlife! As well as some things that are just oh so Bernal! I hope you enjoy!

The morning light reflecting off of the bay looking south east from Bernal.

One of my favorite Bernal monuments… This rock is always being “artified” with a purpose! This time… in support of gay marriage!

Secret (not so considering one of them is wearing reflective cal-trans style vest and they all had clip boards!) meeting on Bernal Hill.

Now, you’re gonna love this one. This is clearly covering some overnight graffiti, the unusual thing, the buffers (ones that paint it all out) left a note and taped it to the ground! (so artistic too with the dog poop on the left corner!)

Just gotta love the “Wet Paint, by Buff King” sign taped to the pavement… but wait…. this is not the only one!

Here is more of Mr. “Buff King’s” handy work… you are gonna love this one… just check out the “buffing paint job” the king employed here…

Now, that is one heck of a buffing! Nice paint job(s?)! I wonder which part of this is actually the wet paint painted by the Buff King? Seems like maybe he needed more paint! haha!

Sad that this big tree had become rotted and had to be cut down. I think because of that, these little finches were all in turmoil… And all over the place. Clears up a photo op view tho!

Here are those poor traumatized finches in flight. This was only a small number of them but you get the idea.

usually i do not do my hiking early in the AM, but i was surprised how much wild life i saw out in the mornings. I love these little birds!

I do think i like the haze of the other hikers/joggers/walkers/dog walkers in the late afternoon with that somewhat glazed look over tdheir faces as they pass in loops. So much more is on your mind at the end of the day than at the begining of the day. I did not get half as friendly of a hello or a smile while passing the AM crowd compared to the PM crowd. I think that the AMers are used to their crowd being the ones up there and are leary of anyone new they may pass on the trail. Or, they were just living in the my shit dont stink and yours does mentality. Regardless, i loved all of the quirky things that i ran across in this am walk, but i think i will most likely be sticking to my busier afternoon crowd personally. I am not going to be acquiring a dog or a baby any time soon, so i will most likely be given the eye of tresspass again if i do the AM walk.

Who knows, maybe it was just this one day. I better not judge an entire time period on one day. …We will have to try again and see if this is the norm or i just caught a bunch of snobby fridged females on this walk.

Finochio! In true old school fashion of true San Francisco of days past. He reminded us of the amazing dragqueens at the old classic Finochio’s. He is so beautiful! He is a little guy too! He i think would be the type of fish that would eat any other fish in the bowl (or at least fight the hell out of it!) We have to only put his “exercise mirror” in his bowl for 5 or 10 minutes a couple times a day. I dont want him to give him a type A, heart attack candidate type anxiety issues. He did not sleep for almost 3 days straight the first day i brought him home because i dont think he had ever seen a mirror. It was a magnified mirror i realized finally and figured he might be on High Alert!! all the time which would be very stressful too… thinking that a fish bigger than you was mimic-ing every move… I’d be aftaid to sleep too!

Anyway, because of his many different colors in different light, i give you Finochio! (they are all the same fish…just different light:

San Francisco was host tonight to the most electric rainbow i have ever laid eyes on! In fact it was a double rainbow! I did not know that that was actually anything other than ice cream! It looked like it was on fire. I have not seen a weather event bring more people out of their houses to witness. They were everywhere… at least the smart ones were! It was just spectacular! I hope you enjoy!

San Francisco was host tonight to the most electric rainbow i have ever laid eyes on! In fact it was a double rainbow! I did not know that that was actually anything other than ice cream! It looked like it was on fire. I have not seen a weather event bring more people out of their houses to witness. They were everywhere… at least the smart ones were! It was just spectacular! I hope you enjoy!

A little over a month ago, I woke up one morning and had this total click into different way of life. I started hiking a couple of miles up and down the steep hills of San Francisco’s bernal heights. Where I live (about 350 vertical feet up from sea level in not quite 3 blocks, and another 150 for the next two which get me up to Barnal heights blvd that goes around the hill (if you walk the loop it is .02mi. Short of a mile. Shoot, I can easily go a mile just going the couple blocks to the bank or store on cortland (depending on how much isle strolling I do and what path I take. So, the other day, I was doing my hike up and around the rock and the light was just magic. It was an incredibly beautiful day over the weekend with the Americas Cup at sail at the opposite end of sf. It is just to prove to the world that sometimes one should think of stepping out of the gym and into the world. The payoff’s are so good that you can actually forget that your legs are burning and actually feel a little piece of the universe coming back into you!

This also was the day we buried our beta fish Tyrone. Fitting I thought. Angelic almost!

I often like to see examples of animals doing animal things. And knowing that the reason they are doing it is a universal drive we all do. Then i like to see how much of us (humans) really are still just animals. There may be more plastic and paint in our species, but it happens all the same. Beauty is beautiful whatever species you are, and for some strange reason, every single one of us are drawn to beauty. Maybe we are not the only ones. I personally think that no one can ever EVER do it better than Mother Nature and this is my example. Birds of paridise… aint no joke! So f@*^%ing beautiful! I think they know it too😉.

Since today is my birthday AND i re-installed a new system OS, i thought i would celebrate by posting this Sony Bravia add. Not as cool as their paint and their balls adds, but equally as beautiful! I think you all will like this one too. Enjoy!

From my family reunion. Beautiful work McClaren sure does. This park though much smaller still has the quaint wonderland feel that his claim to fame Golden Gate Park has. Really lovely! Could get lost here for days!

Ok… This is crazy! The artist must be a very little person with very little hands to be able to make these awesome sculptures in the eye of a needle!! This takes a very particular mind and pair of eyes and hands to be able to create the below. It is not me that is for sure! I say Bravo!

I came across this posting on twitter. It made me feel better, i hope it does you too!

1. This picture of Chicago Christians who showed up at a gay pride parade to apologize for homophobia in the Church.

… and the reaction from the parade.

2. This story about Japanese senior citizens who volunteered to tackle the nuclear crisis at Fukushima power station so that young people wouldn’t have to subject themselves to radiation.

3. This picture of two Norwegian guys rescuing a sheep from the ocean.

4. This sign at an awesome bookshop.

5. This poll about what Snooki should name her child.

6. The moment in which this Ohio athlete stopped to help an injured competitor across the finish line during a track meet.

17-year-old Meghan Vogel was in last place in the 3,200-meter run when she caught up to competitor Arden McMath, whose body was giving out. Instead of running past her to avoid the last-place finish, Vogel put McMath’s arm around her shoulders, carried her 30 meters, and then pushed her over the finish line before crossing it.

7. This exchange between a 3-year-old girl and a shopping center.

8. This note that was handed to a waiter along with a $20 bill by an elderly lady in his restaurant.

9. This sign at an awesome Subway restaurant.

10. This picture of a villager carrying stranded kittens to dry land during floods in Cuttack City, India.

11. This sign at an awesome drycleaner’s.

12. This photograph of a man giving his shoes to a homeless girl in Rio de Janeiro.

13. This picture of a firefighter administering Oxygen to a cat rescued from a house fire.

14. And this one.

15. This interaction between a Guatemalan girl and a tourist she just met.

16. This gesture from a neighbor.

17. These photos of two children collaborating to rescue a dog who had fallen into a ravine.

18. This note on a young family’s check.

19. This exchange between a protester and a soldier during a protest in Brazil.

20. These pictures of a man jumping into rough waters to rescue a stranger’s Shih Tzu in Melbourne.

Sue Drummond was walking her beloved Shih Tzu, Bibi, on a pier in Melbourne, when a fierce gust of wind picked him up and hurled him into the rough waters of the bay. A passerby, Raden Soemawinata, who happened to be on the pier that day to scatter his grandmother’s ashes, wasted no time in stripping down and diving into the bay to rescue the animal.

It has been several years since i have watched this video that i made back in the late 2005-2006ish. Some things that these photos contain are San Francisco, some of the quirky things i see here, Highway 1 at devils slide before the last big slide, Pacifica, Infineon Raceway in Sonoma (that is my dad), Tiburon, Capitola, and 2 token Portland, Or. (snow), the De Young Museum (both the pre opening.. thats my dad walking away in the one. He is on the wall of donors too!) and the 48 hour public re-opening that went all day and night and day and night) as well as Dale Chihuly’s amazing glass retrospective, and my garden, and probably other things that i can not remember. I hope you like it! Most of these were taken on a little canon digital camera or my cel phone. No retouching unless it was sideways!🙂

With Kodak going bankrupt (or out of business or something like that. I know they dont make kodachrome film anymore.) I have been thinking about how sad it is to not have a little envelope / folder thing with a whole roll of film and the strips of negatives. My box of photos is in the second on the list of what to grab if there is a fire (sorry but the kitty has to be first!). I love how if you are lucky, there is a date stamped on the back. I also think about how fun it was when i had my Poloroid camera that shot the long rectangle photos that i took on my second trip to Hawaii. I loved the smell of those photos. I loved the waiting anticipation of everyone gathering around to see what the picture was going to develop into. And i loved that there was a big place to write whatever on the edge of the photo. I loved those dang Poloroids. Needless to say i have been mourning the loss of that slowly dying industry for a little while now.

So, imagine how excited i got when i came across this… on Photojojo.com. (by the way, this is a really cool little company that i stumbled upon that turns out to be based right out of here in San Francisco. It is a company i am going to keep my eye on. They find the coolest stuff and i think that they just may have the stuff to make it for the long run. Watch for a post i am going to be doing regarding a job posting of theirs and you will see kind of what i am talking about.).

It is a DIGITAL POLOROID CAMERA!!! YIPPEE!! I am going to be saving all of my loose change and maybe in a while i will be landing my hands on one of my very own! In the mean time, i am here to share it with you while i am waiting (and preparing for all of the fun and memories i am going to be able to create some day soon!)

This is a post NOT written by me. I have to thank Alison Nastasi for this great compilation and posting!

An artist’s studio is the site of invention and an influential environment where form and function are of equal importance. My Modern Met’s post about one uniquely designed studio on rocky Fogo Island fueled our creative juices. The photos inspired us to search out other incredible art studios around the globe that emphasis beautiful design, integrate nature, or just wowed us with their interesting use of space. Each one becomes a work of art in and of itself. See them all past the break. If you know about an amazing studio, please fill us in below.

Squish Studio

On the offshore Fogo Island in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada is Squish Studio — a gorgeous workspace jutting from the scenic, rocky coastline. Saunders Architecture gave the studio solar panels — something that becomes particularly beautiful at night as they light up the structure like a lighthouse — a compost toilet, and other eco-friendly touches.

Tower Studio

We might be joining Team Saunders soon if the architectural firm keeps creating beautifully designed studios such as the Tower Studio, also located on Fogo Island like the aforementioned Squish Studio. The angular, twisted exterior is completely windowless (but gets plenty of interior sun thanks to a massive skylight) and black, and can only be reached by hike. Three levels tall and featuring inclined surfaces — making it appear as though a mad German expressionist created it — the studio features all the same eco-savvy tools as Squish. Be sure to visit Bridge and Long studios also from Saunders Architecture to imagine further creative possibilities.

Shipping Container Studio

Most people generally don’t think of shipping containers as attractive structures, but MB Architecture does and has created a functional, but inviting workspace. Aiming to blend the boxy studio with the surrounding environment, the architects kept things simple and clean — allowing white walls to act as enormous blank canvases highlighted by ample natural light.

Image credit: Yiannis Hadjiaslanis

Greek Studio

Boeotia, Greece boasts a dome-shaped workspace, complete with sculpture gallery, balcony, storage area, and cantilevered concrete steps that can also serve as an exhibit area. Inspired by the “spirit of the Greek landscape,” A31 Architecture wanted to create something that felt timeless — recalling antiquity and modernism. Unique construction considerations — including the sun’s trajectory — make the art warehouse a truly special place for one local painter/sculptor.

Airstream Studio

We’re big fans of mobile everything, and repurposed Airstream trailers are near the top of the list. One artist transformed her iconic recreational vehicle, updating the 1963 trailer for art’s sake. The furniture and décor pays homage to the vintage Airstream, but doesn’t sacrifice workspace for style.

Image credit: Undine Pröhl

Bridge Studio

Safdie Rabines Architects wanted to minimize the impact their beautiful structure would have on the natural environment, so they created an actual “bridge” that connects the two-person workspace to an adjacent house. Perched atop a canyon, the floor-to-ceiling glass doors create openness while providing a killer view of the San Diego area.

Image credit: Ole Hein and Poul Høilund D. Cruise

Stable Studio

Looking at one Denmark stable from the outside, you wouldn’t be able to tell that the space is a haven for artists. Copenhagen firm Svendborg Architects have built the workspace inside an existing stable, preserving the structural walls and roofline. One half of the gabled interior is fitted entirely with mirrors in order to reflect things into the studio via the skylights on the other side of the pitched roof. It’s a progressive way to transform an old farmhouse, respecting the surrounding environment.

Painting Studio

One artist’s studio looks like the house that Ikea built, and we approve. The brightly lit painting workspace contains a large storage area, its own workshop, a garage, and a garden shed. You’d never guess the sleek, modern studio was located in the burbs of Melbourne.

Carport Studio

Architects Edwards Moore designed this translucent fiberglass carport studio in Melbourne. The simple, lovely design has a clean façade, allowing it to seamlessly blend with the adjacent first floor, art deco-style apartment. The workspace features porthole windows, a shower/wet area, and canoe storage (jealous!), among other amenities.

Portland Studio

Dangermond Keane Architecture wanted to “capture and add warmth to the silver Oregon daylight,” which judging from episodes of Portlandia does seem to need a little sunny oomph. This Portland painter’s studio is a single-person structure, and the stylish design doesn’t detract from its intimacy.

Forest Studio

If you’ve ever dreamed about quietly working away in the middle of the forest like Snow White, then behold one New York artist’s studio surrounded by trees and silence. A transparent roof allows you to daydream while painting, and the interior design is minimal, putting the emphasis on your work.

Ivy Studio

This ivy-covered workspace looks like it sprouted in the garden on its own. It recently won an Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects for its impressive marrying of organic and modern. The old garden shed was fitted with an exterior metal frame for the ivy to cling to, and the results are utterly charming.

No. 19 Studio

Kortknie Stuhlmacher Architecten of Rotterdam collaborated with artists BikvanderPol for a municipal art program in Utrecht. The mobile studio “doesn’t aim at being a piece of art in itself, but mainly offers a practical and affordable place to stay.” The massive structure maximizes space and function, allowing its inhabitants to divide the long interior however they please. Don’t worry, the behemoth structure is safe for transport and is permitted on public roads. We dig the studio’s dungeon-like trapdoor opening.

Ultra Modern Studio

Architects B+U, LLP’s art studio looks like it landed from outer space, but the ultra sleek and modern workspace is located in Los Angeles. On a hillside, the structure was built onto an existing single story house and is flexible enough to be easily transformed into a guesthouse (complete with wine cellar, jacuzzi, and more decks than any human being really needs). The curved steel might look out of place initially, but the firm explains their intent:

“The main design emphasis was a variety of trajectories that explored different movements and paths through the trees and the landscape, preserving the existing oak trees and minimizing modifications to the ground. The trajectories became the circulation path that in the areas of the studio and the cellar formed spatial enclosures, but mostly articulated as a trail through the thriving landscape.”

Tree House Studio

Hidden in the forests of Scotland, this tree house art studio is accessible by way of a bridge and wooden pathway, constructed to match the workspace. Part of the studio was built from the trees cut down to make space for it, aiming to minimize waste. Large windows and simple design make it an inspiring place for creative collaboration, as commissioned by the London Fieldworks art association.

Modern Tree House Studio

Rockefeller Partners Architects’ is a modern interpretation of a tree house, inspired by the branch-like steel pylons the art studio (and part-time sanctuary) is built on. The design shapes itself around the contours of the trunk — an homage to its California surroundings. Wood features prominently throughout the studio’s design, which features a fireplace and private outdoor shower for when things get really messy.

I hope you like my slideshow. All photos were taken as is on a digital point and shoot camera. NO photoshoping of any kind. What you get is what you see. I am just one lucky girl to have such a beautiful canvas to live within! Enjoy!! Any comments are surly appreciated by the way…🙂.